Surveillance of strangles in UK horses between 2015 and 2019 based on laboratory detection of Streptococcus equi.
Streptococcus equi
strangles
surveillance
Journal
The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
Titre abrégé: Vet Rec
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0031164
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2021
Dec 2021
Historique:
revised:
21
07
2021
received:
23
02
2021
accepted:
09
09
2021
pubmed:
28
9
2021
medline:
27
1
2022
entrez:
27
9
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Previously national surveillance data for monitoring strangles (Streptococcus equi infection) in UK horses was limited. Improved awareness and knowledge of positive diagnoses would permit the optimisation of biosecurity protocols, decreasing the prevalence of strangles. Seven UK laboratories reported positive strangles diagnoses between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 based on identifying Streptococcus equi via agent detection assays from field-based practitioner-submitted samples. Associated clinical history and animal signalment were collected where provided, and descriptive analysis undertaken. Within the study period, 1617 laboratory-confirmed diagnoses occurred from samples submitted by 315 veterinary practices. Of these, 51.6% were swabs and 44.0% guttural pouch lavages. Diagnoses were primarily based on qPCR alone (59.6%), qPCR and culture (35.8%), or culture alone (4.6%). A total of 1791 clinical signs were reported for 713 diagnoses, where nasal discharge (31.3%) and pyrexia (20.5%) were most frequently reported. Regions with the highest number of diagnoses included North Yorkshire (n = 75, 4.6%), Staffordshire (n = 71, 4.4%) and West Sussex (North East) (n = 63, 3.9%). This study presents important insights into the diagnosis and clinical features of strangles in UK horses, even though limited and/or missing clinical history and signalment on laboratory submission forms restricts the completeness of the data.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Previously national surveillance data for monitoring strangles (Streptococcus equi infection) in UK horses was limited. Improved awareness and knowledge of positive diagnoses would permit the optimisation of biosecurity protocols, decreasing the prevalence of strangles.
METHODS
METHODS
Seven UK laboratories reported positive strangles diagnoses between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 based on identifying Streptococcus equi via agent detection assays from field-based practitioner-submitted samples. Associated clinical history and animal signalment were collected where provided, and descriptive analysis undertaken.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Within the study period, 1617 laboratory-confirmed diagnoses occurred from samples submitted by 315 veterinary practices. Of these, 51.6% were swabs and 44.0% guttural pouch lavages. Diagnoses were primarily based on qPCR alone (59.6%), qPCR and culture (35.8%), or culture alone (4.6%). A total of 1791 clinical signs were reported for 713 diagnoses, where nasal discharge (31.3%) and pyrexia (20.5%) were most frequently reported. Regions with the highest number of diagnoses included North Yorkshire (n = 75, 4.6%), Staffordshire (n = 71, 4.4%) and West Sussex (North East) (n = 63, 3.9%).
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This study presents important insights into the diagnosis and clinical features of strangles in UK horses, even though limited and/or missing clinical history and signalment on laboratory submission forms restricts the completeness of the data.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e948Informations de copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
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